Friday, July 31

Chris and Jennifer Daltry of What Cheer Antiques + Vintage (Providence, RI) curate the Rock & Roll Yard Sale featuring sellers of the bizarre and exotic from across New England. Looking forward to a flea market of treasures including vinyl records, music memorabilia, vintage eyewear and apparel, homemade crafts, and inevitably, cupcakes. More in today's Boston Globe.

"What Cheer is named for a Native American greeting used in the area of modern-day Rhode Island during the 1600s. In 1636, Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island who left Salem, Massachusetts to seek religious freedom, landed at modern-day Providence and was greeted by Narragansett Native Americans with "What Cheer, Netop". Netop was the Narragansett word for friend, and What Cheer was an old English greeting brought to New England by English settlers. Over time, the story of Williams' welcome was absorbed into the legend of Providence." via Wikipedia.

Thursday, July 30

Supposedly IBC (nice website guys...) commissioned/accepted the above design refresh in 2008, though I have never seen it. Thinking of taking the kid for a root beer float excursion this weekend, (or make at home) so getting primed. Local contender below. Capt'n Eli's Soda (brewed by Shipyard Brewing, Portland, ME.) A root beer flavored with wintergreen oil, anise, and vanilla, and sweetened with natural cane and brown sugars.

Can't help thinking if you can dodge a wrench... here, but 2 guys in VT have a little cottage industry turning out pre-made dog sticks... for playing fetch. (Money for old rope also comes to mind, or if you build it... too.) Bit unnecessary but if you need your dog’s name stylishly burned into a section of bark-cleared maple you now know where to go. Illustrations by Vermont's own Anna Dibble.

Fetchstix™ are cut from 3/4" - 1" thick Vermont Maple saplings. Attached to the bundle is an 'Owner's Manual' with illustrated stick-throwing instructions for both Country and City dog owners (see below).

Lois Lenski is the author and/or illustrator of over 100 children's titles, great for ages 0-preteen. So far we have only delved into the "Little" (Little Fire Engine, Little Train, Little Airplane) and "Small" (Fireman Small, Policeman Small, Cowboy Small, etc.) titles but there is some stuff for older kids too (Strawberry Girl, On a Summer Day). Lenski was the illustrator for Watty Piper's (a pseudonym for publishing house Platt & Munk) 1930 classic The Little Engine That Could incidentally. Yes the people are all a bit coal for eyes but the drawings are clear and crisp and text is easy for the younge kids to handle...

"The Canon Dial 35 was an unconventional half-frame 35mm camera with clockwork automatic film advance. It was made in Japan by Canon from November 1963. The Dial 35 was also sold as the Bell & Howell Dial 35.

The body had an unusual "portrait" format rectangular shape, with a short, wide-diameter lens barrel containing the CdS meter photocells window around the 28mm lens. Rotating the lens barrel set the speed of the Seikosha shutter; the aperture was set automatically.

There was a cylindrical handle at the bottom, which also wound the clockwork mechanism. " -from Camerapedia.

Hadn't seen this camera, or any 1/2 frames before today, they seem to have quite a following. Take 1/2 frame shots, 2 to a print, then some nice juxtapositons are achieved. Started on this after finding Jacob Holt's huge photo essay on American poverty and race. Further reading. Some intense stuff.

I only know of Arthur Ganson from visiting the MIT Museum in the no-mans land of Cambridge between Central Square and MIT. BTW, it is great for kids, especially his area there and then the flash work of Harold Edgarton which exhibit I now see may be closed. Oh well. Anyway, there is more than that and it is free on Sunday mornings. Def' worth a visit. Ganson is a sculptor who makes mechanical/kinetic art. Some of it a little dollhead/freaky. The Machine With Oil is a fave, as the 70 weight motor oil reek adds a certain visceral element. His sculptures at the museum all feature push-button starts, go crazy kids...

Ganson also invented this kid friendly free-construction kit called Toobers and Zots (Toobers bend and hold their shape. Zots add color). Had not seen them before.

Tuesday, July 28

The dinner at last w/e's fantastic outdoor wedding (yes S&T!) was a pig roast. 2 major hogs got the 24 hour treatment then finished off on site. Trays of crackling and salt left by the beers at the end. Perfect.

Don't like to lean too heavily on the Life Photo Archive but found this series about a bbq/pig roast in Guilford VT by photog Walter Sanders. Selection below. Everyone needs a crane to bring the food in right... that is some huge pig... Also was surprised at the amount of people carrying cameras.

Monday, July 27

Supposedly you can make your own corn cob pipes but these simple, inexpensive cob pipes from the 19thC upstart Hirschl & Bendheim's Irvin S. Cobb marque (which come "Toasted and Broken In") get great play among pipe smokers, not least for their ease of use. Of course, better not to smoke atall. These pipes played off the aura of Irvin S. Cobb the Kentuckian humorist who it seems was actually more like a cigar smoker... Full story on this anyone??

"What is the subtle magic of a corncob pipe? It is never as sweet or as mellow as a well-seasoned briar, and yet it has a fascination all its own. It is equally dear to those who work hard and those who loaf with intensity. When you put your nose to the blackened mouth of the hot cob its odor is quite different from that fragrance of the crusted wooden bowl. There is a faint bitterness in it, a sour, plaintive aroma. It is a pipe that seems to call aloud for the accompaniment of beer and earnest argument on factional political matters. It is also the pipe for solitary vigils of hard and concentrated work. It is the pipe that a man keeps in the drawer of his desk for savage hours of extra toil after the stenographer has powdered her nose and gone home.

A corncob pipe is a humble badge of philosophy, an evidence of tolerance and even humor. It requires patience and good cheer, for it is slow to "break in." Those who meditate bestial and brutal designs against the weak and innocent do not smoke it. Probably Hindenburg never saw one. Missouri's reputation for incredulity may be due to the corncob habit. One who is accustomed to consider an argument over a burning nest of tobacco, with the smoke fuming upward in a placid haze, will not accept any dogma too immediately.

There is a singular affinity among those who smoke corncobs. A Missouri meerschaum whose bowl is browned and whose fiber stem is frayed and stringy with biting betrays a meditative and reasonable owner. He will have pondered all aspects of life and be equally ready to denounce any of them, but without bitterness. If you see a man on a street corner smoking a cob it will be safe to ask him to watch the baby a minute while you slip around the corner. You would even be safe in asking him to lend you a five. He will be safe, too, because he won't have it.

Think, therefore, of the charm of a town where corncob pipes are the chief industry. Think of them stacked up in bright yellow piles in the warehouse. Think of the warm sun and the wholesome sweetness of broad acres that have grown into the pith of the cob. Think of the bright-eyed Missouri maidens who have turned and scooped and varnished and packed them. Think of the airy streets and wide pavements of Boonville, and the corner drug stores with their shining soda fountains and grape-juice bottles. Think of sitting out on that bluff on a warm evening, watching the broad shimmer of the river slipping down from the sunset, and smoking a serene pipe while the local flappers walk in the coolness wearing crisp, swaying gingham dresses. That's the kind of town we like to think about."

[Note: meerschaum pipes are made of the epinonimous white bone-like mineral. Usually ornately carved.]

Sunday, July 26

Friday, July 24

I fully support one of the planks of the recent "buy American" movement; that is to buy goods from their original manufacturers. Boots and blankets should come from Minnesota, camping gear from Oregon (or California) and moccasins from Maine. Plus, coats come from Dakota and pencils come from Pennsylvania... Right?

On that tack, a few months back The Trad revealed a nice tip on the ACL boards that should have been obvious but wasn't... when buying British goods, especially nicely aged stuff like say, a Barbour jacket, use British eBay. Bolt of lighting time...

"Ahem, a small word of advice that’ll save you a couple hundred bucks – - Go to Ebay UK for your Barbour. Dirt cheap and beat to hell for about $50. Throw in shipping for $30 and you have the real McCoy with distressed character." -Tintin (The Trad)

Excellent advice. Took a little watching but managed to snag a "BARBOUR BEDALE Waxed Country/Riding jacket 38" for 12 pounds sterling, about $20. Insane. Have never owned one until now; in the UK a Barbour has some slightly loaded social conortations (i.e. you may be an upper class twit / Hooray Henry / Sloane Ranger / Yaaah) but no doubt that is just my insecurity showing. Fine, fine piece of kit.

Related tip from Oma that I won't need this time: Distress a Barbour to avoid the ignominy of appearing to have a new one... elastic bands wound round the arms and leave it in the back of the car for the dogs to trample on!

Now the big question.. do I rewax it and go through all that or just wear it as is...

Thursday, July 23

When a wedding rehearsal dinner is outdoors in central Vermont, even if it is summer, the game is all changed. Make that a pig roast and you had better come dressed to play.

Gloves: Kinco. Love these. Inexpensive as hell and essential for turning the spit.
Vest: Penfield x Stussy. Hickory striped... bosh.
The striped rugby is a stone cold classic. To get gritty cut the collar off, just above the seam... turns it into sort of a sweatshirt.
Old Levis, turned up. Handkerchief. Docksiders. No socks. Maybe should bring some marled wool socks in case the temp really dips, or the bugs come out...
Belt: Used to wear a thick belt and buckle all the time but recently have liked the thinner belts... this undyed Billykirk is simple and no doubt ages well.

Bring a bunch of leeks, split lengthwise, soaked in some kind of oil/herbs to throw on the grill. Big hit. Eat your greens.

Secret weapon (besides mixing Long Trail kegs and fireworks) is sourcing a Polaroid camera and film, from a former Polaroid executive. Cannot wait to bust that out. Congrats Skye and Tina... See you soon.